Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Incredibly, Sir Thomas Lipton challenged for the America's Cup five times between 1899 and 1930.

His 'Shamrock' series of boats had a dismal combined record of 2-16 in Cup Matches, but Lipton, the consummate gentleman, was as popular in the US as he was at home. One of the reasons for this was his traveling throughout the country, where he would often donate trophies to local yacht clubs.

Many clubs still hold challenges for their Lipton Cup, and over this past weekend, Waikiki Yacht Club successfully defended its title in Hawaii. See more in Ray Pendleton's story here.